Petra Guglielmetti

Despite growing up mostly in Maine (where the top-selling beauty product is probably Carmex medicated lip balm) and getting her journalistic start as a Boston Globe intern who covered plane crashes and hurricanes, Petra Guglielmetti somehow ended up writing and knowing a lot about beauty. As one of the first writers for Glamour's now-super-popular—and Webby-winning—Girls in the Beauty Department blog, she loves to dispense skin care advice, solicited or otherwise. And do not get her started on the importance of lash curlers, antioxidants, and investment hair-dryers. Non-beauty passions include cooking, starting, but not finishing, crafty projects (she worked for Martha Stewart prior to Glamour), and hanging out at Target whenever the opportunity presents itself. Also, Petra is too old to buy clothing at Forever 21 but does so anyway and is not ashamed. She recently moved from NYC to the Jersey burbs with her husband, Marc, two little daughters, and one unsettlingly cute miniature dachshund. She also writes for magazines such as Self, Health, Fitness, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, and Family Circle.

You've seen a lot of sexy cat eyes in your day and read/watched almost as many eyeliner how-tos, but leave it to the adorable and charming Gigi Hadid to get you excited about the look all over again. A photo posted by Vincent Oquendo (@makeupvincent) on Mar 30, 2015 at 3:56pm PDT That's what I thought when I glimpsed this silly #bts shot of Gigi getting ready for Karl Lagerfeld's yacht party in NYC last night. In spite of the shiny mustache, all I could see were perfect cat eyes. And makeup artist Vincent Oquendo was so kind as to tell us exactly what he did to create them. A photo posted by Vincent Oquendo (@makeupvincent) on Mar 30, 2015 at 3:58pm PDT He started by applying Maybelline Eye Studio Color Molten Eyeshadow in Plum Fusion, using the lighter shade on her lid and the deeper color in her crease. "Then I lined her inner waterline with the Master Kajal by Eye Studio Cream Kohl in Onyx Rush, and pulled out the liner from the waterline towards the ear to create that perfect cat eye shape," he says. His tool for making the line extra sharp and clean: pointed cotton read more

That's right...just when Tom Cruise figured his worst week ever had already hit rock bottom—thanks to the jaw-dropping Scientology documentary Going Clear that has everyone everywhere saying whaaaaaaat?!—ex-wife Katie Holmes just stepped out in what is without question her sexiest look ever. I think she's definitely taunting him on purpose. I mean, we're not even just talking hot-pink lace and side-boob, though both of those were happening. We're talking the hairstyle equivalent of side-boob too. Have you ever, ever seen Katie Holmes looking this hot? I think the pushed-straight-back hairstyle has as much to do with it as the cutout Zac Posen dress. It was done by hairstylist DJ Quintero (who happens to have touched my hair too), who applied Alterna Haircare Bamboo Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse before drying Katie's hair with a round brush, moving straight up and back away from her face. He then flatironed her ends a bit but left the roots full-volume. To add texture, he misted on Alterna Haircare Bamboo Volume 2-in-1 Volumizer. And then there's that glowing skin; she looks so young and fresh-faced I'm having Joey Potter flashbacks. Does this photo of Katie Holmes make you want to try slicking your hair straight read more

If any celebrity's going to be copping my ponytail style, I'm pretty content for it to be Mindy Kaling, since I love her. Here's the pony she wore last night, courtesy of hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein. A photo posted by Clariss Rubenstein (@clarisshair) on Mar 30, 2015 at 7:52am PDT This isn't just a cute, smooth, low pony. It's my signature pony, one I don't often spot on other people. I part my hair to one side, sweep the front section across my forehead, and pull the tail in front of the opposite shoulder. Things just feel more balanced and polished this way. It's not a full side pony or any trendy statement like that. The proportions just flatter my hairline and face, which are not entirely symmetrical. Needless to say, I think the look works really well on Mindy too, even though she's totally copping my style. Do any of you wear your ponytail the way Mindy Kaling and I do? What's your go-to ponytail style? read more

Until last night, I hadn't heard of Beatrice Borromeo, but after seeing photos of her at the Rose Ball 2015 for the Princess Grace Foundation, I grew a little obsessed with not just her but more specifically her hair. For those of you who are also unfamiliar, Beatrice hails from an Italian aristocratic family and will soon marry Pierre Casiraghi, the second son of Princess Caroline of Monaco (which will make her the sister-in-law of Gucci cosmetics spokesmodel Charlotte Casiraghi, who we interviewed recently). More important than all of this royal fanciness, though, is the fact that her long, golden mane is a crowning glory that might even outshine Kate Middleton's. It's just so glistening, so long, so full of movement, and Beatrice constantly changes up how she wears it, whether she's dressing casual or formal. Take a look at this little photographic tribute to Beatrice Borromeo's hair—starting with her twisted/curled hairstyle from last night's gala—and prepare to begin cultivating an infatuation all your own. Sigh. Who wouldn't mind being her for just a day or two? I know we don't need to make this a competition, but let's go ahead and do so anyway just because it's fun. Could read more

In need of a little weekend eye makeup inspo? Just in time on this Friday afternoon, celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose let me in on the technique he just used when dolling up actress Maika Monroe, whose new thriller It Follows opens today. First off, he skipped eyeshadow entirely—one long-wear eyeliner is all he needed to craft this sexiness. "You can create laid-back drama on eyes using just long-wearing pencil by lining both your upper and lower lash lines," he says. "For extra drama, I like adding it to the inner rims too. It looks dramatic but with a simple attitude, perfect for weekend glam." Now here's the key/easy trick: To get eyeliner onto your waterline/inner rim without it quickly smudging off, first be sure your pencil is really long-wearing (he likes Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil, which is what you see above), and before applying it, use a cotton swab to gently blot away wetness on the area. Then apply the pencil, which will swipe on much more smoothly. "When you do it right, this look lasts all day/night," Barose says. Do any of you create a sexy weekend look using eyeliner alone? Do you use it read more

1. Foundation or powder with sunscreen Certain sunscreen ingredients found in powders and foundations can reflect light when you're photographed indoors using a flash, creating unflattering patchiness on your skin (SPF moisturizers aren't a problem when they're covered with foundation). Either play it safe with sunscreen-free makeup (if your wedding's primarily indoors), or if you're set on using a favorite formula that has sunscreen, mention this to your photographer to see what she says. She might be able to take test photos for you and/or adjust the type of flash she'll use indoors. If you'll be outdoors and photographed mostly in natural light, you should be able to wear SPF makeup with no issues. 2. Eye pencil Your usual pencil might last all day under ordinary circumstances, but when you have a marathon of dancing and crying and kissing ahead, it's better to choose a super-stay-put formula, like gel, liquid, or cake eyeliner. Eyeliner is key to making your eyes pop in photos, so you definitely don't want yours to pull a disappearing act. 3. Lip gloss Gloss doesn't last that long, isn't conducive to kissing (sticky!), and can easily smudge or even migrate to your cheek or hair, read more

Blonds may have more fun, but they often have less brow. Which is not much fun during times like the present, when brows are basically everything. Filling in light-haired eyebrows is far trickier than working with darker ones, not just in terms of technique but when it comes to choosing the right color. There's just nowhere to hide mistakes. That's why I want to share the name of a perfect light brow pencil from the red carpet at last night's Mad Men party, where (pinkish) blond star January Jones showcased some serious blond brow power. The exact pencil that celebrity makeup artist Rachel Goodwin used: Chanel Crayon Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in Blond Clair. It strikes that delicate balance between looking light/neutral and creating brow strength. How many of you plan to try this shade on next time you pass a Chanel counter? What's your favorite way to play up blond brows? Share your technique and product picks with the group! read more

Surprise—it's Snooki! I just used the back of that blond model's head to throw you off. Even if you never watched Jersey Shore, that iconic keystone of trashy-reality-TV history, you've probably noticed that bubbly star Snooki, real name Nicole LaValle, has grown up so much over the past several years. Originally famous for her high "pouf" hairstyle (seen above in 2010) and later for statements like bright-red hair dye, she has finally embraced hair and makeup that truly flatters her and fits her more low-key life as a wife and mom. While visiting The View yesterday, Snooki stopped to wave to the cameras—and let us all fully appreciate her completely gorgeous new look. Her layered hair is the ideal rich color for her skin and length for her height; no longer are two feet of extensions overwhelming her frame. (We loved the bob she had in January too, but this length just feels more her.) This wine-color lipstick is bold yet works with her hair and skin tone, rather than jumping out at you. Pops of gold at her inner eye corners and flushed cheeks add warmth and dimension. OK, so she hasn't fully eased up on the bronzer/tanner, but read more

No, she's not platinum, but Khloe Kardashian might be taking some inspiration from sister Kim's recent statement-making pale hair—she just emerged from a salon with what has to be her lightest blond color ever. Long a fan of golden highlights and ombre hair, Khloe finally went full-on blond early this month, but she maintained some darker roots and lowlights. This update appears much lighter and more even-toned, with more yellow in it. Very Barbie! What do you think of Khloe Kardashian's blond hair? Should she continue on this journey toward the light side or get back to her brunette roots? read more

Now here's one hair-growth trick we're pretty sure you haven't tried along with those prenatal vitamins: booking hair trims according to the lunar calendar. That's right, horoscope junkies—we're talking hairstrology. Yes, "lunar haircutting" is an actual thing—and not a new one either. But I first stumbled across the concept when I noticed that the Farmers' Almanac (the centuries-old publication best known for predicting weather/climate trends far in advance) lists best dates for cutting hair to increase growth, right alongside its suggested dates for planting crops or mowing the lawn. Whaaat? I had to drop what I was working on and contact the publication to find out more about how these dates are selected. "The formula the Farmers' Almanac uses is based on the moon phases, where the moon is at in the zodiac, and a few other factors," managing editor Sandi Duncan kindly explained. "Many people believe that the moon has a direct pull not only on the tides but a variety of other living things on earth." Including hair. Theoretically. So why trim on days when that pull is stronger? "When you trim your hair you are removing dead ends, which helps to keep your hair healthy," Duncan read more

A few months ago, we posted about stars like Jordin Sparks and Zendaya wearing subtle gold hoops in their noses. Well now Hills alum (/Lauren Conrad BFF) Lo Bosworth has gone and gotten a gold nose ring too, only hers is thicker and studded. A photo posted by Lo Bosworth (@lobosworth) on Mar 24, 2015 at 8:44pm PDT Lo's no new fan of piercings though; last March, she let the world watch via YouTube as she got her ear helix pierced. I'm not entirely sure why anyone would want to watch that, but here's the clip just in case you do. What do you think of Lo Bosworth's new nose ring and of the nose ring trend in general? Would you ever want to wear a gold hoop in your nose, or would you stick to a more subtle speck of a nose ring? Or are you a no-nose-ring-ever-thanks kinda girl? read more

I just made a rookie beauty mistake and am seriously paying the consequences, ladies. There was like one day here recently that wasn't below freezing, and I just couldn't wait—I tossed my socks and tired Tom's boots aside and slipped my bare feet into my beloved Chucks (the Shoreline Slip-Ons). After the brutal winter we've had, I don't think I've ever felt anything more liberating than doing my errands and walking my dog in these shoes, with a sliver of bare ankle feeling the breeze. What I should have known: My poor post-winter feet weren't ready to go sockless like that. I've been a bit lax about moisturizing them overnight. Almost immediately I got a crack in my left heel, and if you've ever had a bad one of those, you know how painful they can be—and how they can take forever to heal. So much for getting a cute pedicure when/if it finally warms up for real! Learn from my mistake and make sure to ease your transition from winter boots to sockless sneakers or sandals, even if the weather's transition is anything but gradual (thanks to climate change, we should probably get used to going straight from read more

What happens when a celebrity gives her hairstylist free rein to create any look he wants for her red-carpet appearance? Amanda Seyfried found out the answer before last night's While We're Young premiere in New York City. "[She] told [hairstylist] Renato Campora to do whatever he wanted to her gorgeous head of hair tonight...and this beautiful hairdo is what he did!" makeup artist Katey Denno revealed on Instagram after she did her own part dolling Seyfried up, creating some daring cat-eyes. Check out this fierce finished look! For all the braid hairstyles we've seen on the red carpet, I don't think we've ever seen a celebrity wear this exact creation—a double French braid wound into a bun. Ordinarily, one would think of this hairstyle as childlike, but here, it takes on some serious edge. Its center part, paired with those cat-eyes, dramatically enhances the perfect symmetry of Seyfried's face, lending her an almost other-worldly, big-eyed beauty. “When I saw Amanda's dress, I knew I wanted the hair to feel youthful, playful, and innocent," Campora explains. "I decided on French braids but still wanted to maintain a bit of sophistication and structure." To make the braids sit really tight against the read more

Celebrities love to get two-part haircuts. Makes sense—when you don't have to stress about the cost of multiple salon visits, going short in two or more steps lets you adjust to the loss of length a little bit at a time (and help prevent chopped-too-much regrets). The latest example: Sarah Hyland. Exactly one week ago, we posted that she'd removed her extensions and taken her hair from way-long to shoulder-grazing, with the following result (which our commenters adored). Now, she's brought the cut up to chin-length. Take a peek at the bob she just debuted to the world via Instagram! A photo posted by Sarah Hyland (@therealsarahhyland) on Mar 21, 2015 at 5:06pm PDT Her caption: "Aaaaand it's gone. Summer hair! Thank you @nikkilee901 for always keeping my hair healthy and for givin me the freshest cuts" I don't think she could possibly look cuter. Do you? What a fun new look for spring-summer! What do you think—do you like Sarah Hyland's latest length? Or did you prefer last week's midlength hair? Or her super-long hair? Tell us below! read more

When was the last time you wore a hair comb? Like plain barrettes, hair combs were a styling staple for many of us in middle/high school, but at some point, bobby pins took over as the hold-hair-back accessory of choice. Lately we've had some seriously chic hair comb sightings, though, and I think the hairstyle we saw on Jennifer Lopez yesterday at the premiere of Home has officially brought the look mainstream again. Look how a simple comb helped transform her bombshell waves into something sleek, retro, and very glamorous (well, with a little help from hairstylist Lorenzo Martin). What do you think—does Jennifer Lopez' hairstyle have you tempted to add a hair comb to your hair accessory repertoire? Or do you utilize them already? read more

In what could be the longest social media response a celebrity has ever issued amidst controversy, Kat Von D has published a 700+-word Facebook message defending her decision to name one of her Studded Kiss lipstick shades (sold at Sephora) Underage Red. Although Von D notes that this lipstick shade was one of the first four that she named/released seven years ago, a Twitterstorm of objections to the name suddenly erupted this week, leading to more widespread discussion—and disgust—across the blogosphere, with people arguing that the name promotes statutory rape and pedophilia. In her sorry-not-sorry not-gonna-change-the-name response, Von D says that the name is about teenage feminine rebellion and her 16-year-old self's first love affair with lipstick. She even points out that another one of those original four shades was called Lolita. Of course, makeup and nail polish shade names are one area where cosmetics brands are known for pushing the envelope, as part of a never-ending quest to cleverly rebrand what might otherwise be seen as familiar colors. These names routinely cross the line into non-PC territory (examples here). In fact, mainstream makeup brand MAC also sells a shade called Underage. However, this isn't the first lipstick-name controversy read more

What to do when it's the first day of spring and there are five inches of snow en route by afternoon? I say, let's paint on this nail color, which is both the happiest coral I've ever seen and the best way to give this weather the finger. A photo posted by essie (@essiepolish) on Mar 19, 2015 at 5:23pm PDT I was pretty sure I owned some variation of every nail polish shade under the sun until this shot popped up in my Instagram feed last night. It's Essie Cute as a Button, modeled by nail blogger Arelis Parache (@NailsbyArelisP) and re-grammed by Essie, and somehow I don't think I've ever worn anything exactly this shade of neon. You could argue it's more of a summer shade, but right now it's all I want in life. Who needs temperatures above freezing when we can have nails this bright and happy? Is there a nail polish color you're really craving on this first day of spring? Share below! read more

We've come to know Kate Middleton (/Duchess Catherine) for always looking about as close to perfect as is humanely possible, from her impossibly bouncy blowouts to her modern-day-princess outfits (including what are easily the world's prettiest maternity clothes). Yet there's one aesthetic area in which some of our readers feel the Duchess could make improvements: her makeup. Just yesterday, several of you commented on Beth's post about Kate Middleton's eyeliner, saying that you wish she'd update her usual makeup scheme, which involves tight rings of dark-brown eyeliner, darkened eyelids and shaded creases, plenty of matte pink blush on the apples of her cheeks, defined brows, and subtle pink lipstick. While it feels somehow blasphemous to critique the Duchess's makeup, with her being this graceful and regal presence the world adores, I have to admit that I agree that a makeup update could be amazing for her. If I were Kate, this is what I'd try: The first thing would be swapping out the matte, heavy foundation and powder. These days, there are so many options that give good coverage and longevity while maintaining a more luminous and natural finish. I'd trade the powder blush for a cream stick that has read more

Cellulite is probably one of the few beauty topics you aren't overthinking before your wedding—but if a beachy honeymoon will be coming shortly after, you might want to add just a little thigh TLC to that endless to-do list. (You'll be happy you did once it's just you, your husband, and the 352 skimpy bikinis in your suitcase.) While we all know by now that there's no miracle fix for those dreaded bumps, topical treatments can help temporarily improve the appearance of your thighs. But which cream to pick, and how long will it take to work? NYC dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum says you'll see results if you begin diligently applying a firming body lotion daily three weeks before your trip. “I favor ones that are formulated with antioxidants and ingredients like shea butter and argan oil, giving your skin the protection it needs to maintain elasticity and counteracting loss of firmness,” she says. Her personal favorite: Sebamed Age Defense Q10 Firming Body Lotion (which, conveniently, you can grab for about $20 at Target). Beyond this, there are some easy visual tricks you can employ to downplay cellulite once you arrive at your destination; for those, check out my interview with read more

I can't tell you how many times I've heard a celebrity makeup artist name-drop Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask recently—let's just say a lot of times. It launched in the U.S. mere weeks ago but almost instantly became this indispensable tool for pros to use on their clients pre-red carpet. Obviously I had to get my hands on a tube, and last night, I finally found the time to test it out on my tired, tired skin (I'm pretty over both pregnancy and icy winds right about now). Did the Goddess Skin Mask live up to the rave reviews: specifically, that it instantly (well, in 10 minutes) smoothes lines, tightens pores, and leaves skin plumper and more hydrated? Or the bottle/website's claims that it leaves skin baby-like and "reborn"? Here are all of my thoughts. * Let's start by noting that I went in with some bias, because I'm obsessed with the peach/rose-gold, art-deco-glam packaging of not just this product but the whole Charlotte Tilbury line. And as soon as I twisted off the cap, the mask won more points with its frangipani-flower scent; how nice to sit and breathe in something so gorgeous instead of the somewhat-medicinal fragrances read more